There are seven regions in England which are currently in danger of running out of water by 2030.
According to new analysis, huge parts of the country might face extreme water stress within a few years.
By 2040, this number could even double, says research undertaken by Kingfisher, owner of B&Q and Screwfix, in partnership with economics consultancy Cebr2.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why might there be a water shortage?
For a while England has experienced long-term water problems, as several regions have been in drought throughout the winter and since last summer.
Currently, East Anglia and Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are officially in drought status.
The majority of the rest of the country is “recovering” from the recent spell of dry weather.
According to the National Drought Group, England is just one hot, dry spell away from severe drought conditions returning once again this year.
Population growth and climate change are among the factors exacerbating the situation.
Which regions could run out of water?
There are seven regions in the UK which are at risk of running out of water by 2030.
Unless improvements are made to England’s water resilience, the following regions will be hit severely:
- West Midlands
- London
- Parts of the South West
- East Midlands
- East of England
- South East
The research says the North West, North East, and Yorkshire & Humber were expected to be less vulnerable to water scarcity by 2040.
Water supplies paint a distressing picture for 2030, but the situation is only expected to get worse by 2040, with 12 out of 17 regions expected to run out of water.
At the moment, there are no areas of the country where demand exceeds local supply, or are what is known as being water stressed.
What needs to be done to reduce the risk of water shortages?
Citizens across England are actually using more water in their homes than they were in 2017/2018 - but are underestimating how much water they use.
People thought they used about 57 litres of water a day, but in reality, that figure was more like 144 litres.
Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher, told The Daily Mirror: “Across Europe, we are experiencing more extreme weather, leading to increasing water scarcity in many regions.
“As the impact of climate change becomes more apparent, measures such as hose pipe bans are set to become much more common, with increasingly strong measures needed to reduce demand.
“We all have a role to play in conserving water. Making simple and affordable changes in our homes can have a huge impact, from installing water butts to collect rainwater for the garden to fitting tap aerators or low-flow shower heads.
“Governments can also help by encouraging the rollout of smart water meters and supporting the public to be more informed about water.
“By taking action now, we can put our water usage on a more sustainable path and safeguard this essential resource for the future.”
